CATANIA - Inter were at the Stadio Angelo Massimino, and things still weren't
going right. The game ended as a 2-1 defeat against Catania, and once again it
was a penalty – the fourth one awarded against the Nerazzurri this season –
that decided the match.
Inter quickly took the lead through Cambiasso on a cross from Maicon in the 6th
minute, and the left-footed volley from "El Cuchu" made it 0-1. Then everything
changed in the second half. First came a great goal from Almiron, followed by a
penalty awarded for a foul on Berghessio, although it was clear that the player
allowed himself to fall under contact with Castellazzi. Lodi then stepped up to
the spot and made it 2-1.
FIRST HALF - Claudio Ranieri had to deal with the absence of two suspended players (Ranocchia and Obi) and six players who were still unavailable (Sneijder, Chivu, Coutinho, Forlan, Julio Cesar and Poli). To face Catania he chose Castellazzi in goal, a 4-man midfield of Zanetti, Cambiasso, Muntari and Stankovic in support of attackers Milito and Pazzini.
A heavy rain welcomed Inter onto the pitch of the Stadio Angelo Massimino and the meeting was a special return for Ranieri; from 1982 to 1984 he wore the Rossoazzurra shirt for a total of 92 matches. And the Nerazzurri coach managed to transmit his own enthusiasm to his team, which went ahead after only 6 minutes of play. It came courtesy of Cambiasso, who finished off a move initiated by Milito and Maicon with a diagonal volley from his left foot to make the score 1-0. The Sicilians showed their teeth in the 16th minute through Izco, when the Italo-Argentine crossed from the end-line and sent a dangerous ball that Maicon cleared with Castellazzi rooted to his line. A chance for Inter came in minute 28 with a cross from Maicon for Milito, whose shot was deflected by Legrottaglie for a corner. In the 33rd minute Izco took off like a bullet and found Gomez in ahead of him, but the Argentine scuffed his shot and Castellazzi collected the rebound, unaffected by the pressure of Bergessio. Three minutes later Spolli went down after contact with Muntari on a corner but was able to continue playing in the rain that showed no sign of stopping. After a minute of injury time both teams went into the dressing rooms with the score at 0-1 from Cambiasso's goal.
SECOND HALF – The whistle blew to start play and Catania immediately became dangerous. Another deadly counterattack in the 47th minute brought them level thanks to Almiron who, served by Bergessio, shot first-time past a helpless Castellazzi. Inter responded at the other end when Maicon crossed to Muntari who had a go with a scissor-kick, but his ambitious attempt was off target. On another Catania attack Berghessio took off and faced down Castellazzi one-on-one before letting himself fall in what was an honest to goodness dive as the keeper went low for the ball and made contact only with the ground. However, Orsato saw it differently. He booked the Nerazzurri keeper and awarded a penalty that Lodi converted to make the score 2-1.
Inter did not give up. After some nice build-up, Maicon crossed into the box but the danger was cleared by Bellusci. In the 60th minute Ranieri made three substitutions: two tactical (Alvarez and Zarate for Stankovic and Milito) and one obligatory (Samuel left for a muscle problem, replaced by Cordoba in his first appearance of the season). In the 73rd minute Zarate tried his luck from distance, but the ball ended up directly in the hands of Andujar. And two minutes later another excellent chance fell to Catania when Castellazzi saved with his feet on Delvecchio's shot, which Cordoba then cleared for a corner. In the 84th minute Castellazzi was again the protagonist; Catellani seemed sure to bag Catania's third goal when he was sent clear on a long pass, only to see the Nerazzurri keeper, facing him one-on-one in the box, palm the low shot away. Orsato added 4 minutes of injury time and Inter attempted to make the most of it, besieging the Sicilian box until the last possible moment. The ball would not go in, however, and the match ended at 2-1, leaving Inter with the same 4 points in the standings.
CATANIA 2-1 INTER (HT: 0-1)
Scorers: Cambiasso 6, Almiron 47, Lodi 51.
Catania: 21 Andujar; 3 Spolli, 6 Legrottaglie, 14 Bellusci; 13 Izco, 4 Almiron, 10 Lodi, 19 Ricchiuti (Delvecchio 70), 33 Capuano; 17 Gomez (Catellani 81), 18 Bergessio (Maxi Lopez 65).
Unused subs: 30 Campagnolo, 7 Lanzafame, 12 Marchese, 20 Sciacca.
Coach: Vincenzo Montella.
Inter: 12 Castellazzi; 13 Maicon, 6 Lucio, 25, Samuel (Cordoba 62), 55 Nagatomo; 4 Zanetti, 19 Cambiasso, 77 Muntari, 5 Stankovic (Alvarez 60); 7 Pazzini, 22 Milito (Zarate 60).
Unused subs: 21 Orlandoni, 8 Thiago Motta, 42 Jonathan, 30 Castaignos.
Coach: Claudio Ranieri.
Referee: Daniele Orsato (Schio).
Booked: Spolli 43, Castellazzi 50, Zarate 71, Delvecchio 79, Bellusci 90+4.
Added time: 1 + 4 minutes.
